"I am finally home, Erin!" David called out and she perked up instantly, turning from the hearth they were currently decorating with the swags of greenery that she had picked up the previous evening. "Where are you all?"
"In the living room, darling!" She looked around the room to see that Bruce was still rocking Elise in the chair while Tabitha was busy cutting tissue paper snowflakes for her windows. There was something so cosy and domestic about this scene, and she wondered if she would have felt the same peace in her heart had Alan not decided that getting a divorce was their best course of action. Shaking her head to clear it of thoughts of what couldn't be, she allowed a wide smile to spread across her face as she watched the doorway for her partner.
The first thing that he did was go over to Bruce's side and take Elise from his arms, one hand pulling a small box out of his pocket and placed it on her dress as he came over to her side. "David?"
"You're the one that asked me to marry you, I'm just delivering on that promise with a new ring to replace the promise ring that you've been wearing for a few months now. And Elise wants to give it to you." She felt tears begin to cloud her vision as she plucked the box from off her daughter's dress and opened it, letting out a short gasp. "Did I choose wrong?"
Erin slowly shook her head as she looked at the ring, the middle diamond far larger than anything she had ever seen in her life, flanked by two large garnets. They were cut in the antique cushion style, and as she plucked the ring from its bed of velvet, she could tell that it was a well loved, well worn, ring. "Whose was this?" she breathed out as she pulled off the promise ring he'd given her months ago, slipping it onto her right hand before sliding the engagement ring into place, finding that it fit perfectly.
"It was my grandmother's engagement ring. I decided to use my necessary business trip to NYC in a productive manner and stopped by Commack to take it out of our family safety deposit box. Since I'm the only son, it was always supposed to go to me, but all three previous Mrs. Rossi's didn't want to wear something so ostentatious. I didn't think that you would have those qualms, especially since it looks so perfect on your hand already."
She held out her left hand to look at the ring there, a silly grin spreading across her features as she used the lighting in the room to catch the facets in it. "I don't deserve anything so fine, but thank you, darling." Erin lifted her face and her partner leaned down to kiss her delicately.
"So, if you two get married, does that mean we can live with you full time?" Tabitha asked as she dropped her scissors and came over to their sides, taking hold of Erin's hand and running her thumb across the ring a number of times. "I mean, since we're going to be a family, and all?"
"I wish that it worked like that, Tabby Cat," David replied as he adjusted how he was holding Elise before reaching out to tousle Tabitha's hair. "My lawyer was able to get us the best custody arrangement that we could, but she is right, you three need to spend time with your dad. I wasn't supposed to say anything, but we were talking about the house you grew up in, and since your mom is here, and she doesn't really need any money from your dad, well, your Christmas gift is to have him move back there. I know that having a familiar place to go back to will help you feel a little more comfortable with all this. Okay?"
Tabitha nodded as she hugged Erin tightly. "I suppose, Papa Dave."
That was a new one to Erin's ears, and she quirked an eyebrow at her partner, who just shrugged a little, giving her a knowing little smirk. "All right, the house looks and smells like Christmas is right around the corner, so I'm going to need you three to start writing up wishlists for me and your mom."
"Now?" Karen asked as she finished tacking up the last of the swag on the mantle.
"Well, soon. I only have three weeks to shop for you all, after all." Karen nodded solemnly as she came over to their side, picking up Erin's hand so that she could look at the ring there. "Do you think I chose well for your mother?"
"I think you did, yes. It's always good to go with a ring that has meaning, rather than something cold and impersonal." Karen gave them each a small smile. "Well, I have some homework to finish, so I'm going to head up and do it." She kissed Erin's cheek before hugging David and then leaving the room, Tabitha following closely at her heels.
"Well, I suppose that I should translate for Karen, Dave. She's happy, but she also doesn't like change. And this has been a lot of change for us all. But we like it here, with you and Mom. She's happier now than she has been in a few years, and I like a happy mom." He came over to their sides and hugged Erin before looking at Elise. "I mean, we even have a sweet baby sister to show for all the changes! And since she doesn't cry too much, I suppose that we can keep her."
Erin giggled as she hugged her son once more. "You do have a way with words, Brucie. Though I hope you follow my footsteps into psychology."
"Maybe, Mom. And do we have a budget limit for things we add to our wishlist? I have a few dream items in mind that I'd love to ask for, even if I know that I won't get them."
"Wishlists are just that, wishes, and there should be no price limit on a wish." Bruce grinned as he nodded before turning and racing upstairs, his feet pounding on the floor as he went. "Let me guess, this is where you're going to tell me that I can't spoil the children?"
"You read my mind, David. We usually gave them one large gift off their wishlist, a few books, a new outfit, and stocking stuffers. And by large gift, I mean something that costs, at the most, three hundred dollars. I don't know what Alan is planning on this year, especially since he has the house now, and they can have two of everything, but I don't foresee him going too overboard with things. At least, I hope. And we are not getting Elise an overabundance of things that will just clutter up her nursery. All right?"
"I suppose I can live with that, Erin." He leaned over and kissed her once more, and she sighed against his lips. "You realise that Christmas Day is when Elise will be six weeks old, right?"
She laughed as she nodded. "Yes, and I am looking forward to that night, too. It will be a sweet Christmas gift that we give to ourselves. Now, I am exhausted from decorating today. I hope that it's not too much?"
"It's perfect, Erin. I knew that you would be able to thread that needle, and you proved that in spades. And maybe, by next year, we can see about getting a small tree." She smiled as she took hold of his free hand and began to lead him over to the staircase, ready to curl up with her partner and fall asleep in his arms.